Lisa: I received a call from Steve Lopez from the LA Times yesterday. Yes, THE Steve Lopez! Very nice man. He contacted me because I had sent him an email awhile back and he was following up and looking for info on dementia. He was also working on the Donald Sterling story because Mrs. Sterling now claims that she thinks her husband may have dementia (let's leave that diagnosis up to the experts). We had a good discussion and I highly suggested that he contact the Alzheimer's Association, Southland Chapter to get more specific information for his story. While we were on the phone, I had the chance to tell him all about Alz Across America and our mission. He took a look at our website while we were on the phone. Steve called and spoke with Debra Cherry, Executive Vice President and Amy Landers, Director of Helpline and Early Stage Services. Here is the link to Steve's column today, www.latimes.com/local/la-me-0514-lopez-dementia-20140513-column.html Debra Cherry was quoted yesterday as saying that "50% of people with dementia never get diagnosed". How sad is that? There are families that have a loved one with dementia and they never talk about it and never even admit it. They remain in denial. I cannot imagine, but it is quite common. I experienced this while I was working as a Senior Living Advisor with A Place for Mom, helping families place their loved ones in Assisted Living and Memory Care.

Never acknowledging it and never talking about it is the hardest way of going through this journey and sadly will most likely end up in a crisis at some point down the road. I say, come out of the shadows, there is a life to be lived...you are not alone. LB

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Gary & Lisa Bricker

Gary was diagnosed in 2012 at age 63 with Mild Cognitive Impairment/ Early Onset Alzheimer's. Lisa was 55. The 8 year journey to his diagnosis was a stream of frustrating experiences and tremendous loss. Gary and Lisa live in Redondo Beach, California and credit friends, family and the Alzheimer's Association with providing them a lifeline to finding purpose once again.